20.10.09

THE INTERNATIONAL ELEVEN #7

With his good looks and white suit, Stevens was the coolest of all of snooker’s extraordinary cast of characters in the boom years of the 1980s.

His best moment came at the Wembley Masters in 1984 when he made only the third televised 147 break in a pulsating semi-final against Jimmy White.

Kirk was box office and reached the World Championship semi-finals in 1980 and 1984 and the last four of the UK Championship, also in 1984, before appearing in the British Open final later the same season.

Up to fourth in the rankings, he was one of snooker’s leading lights but cocaine addiction overwhelmed him and almost killed him.

Ultimately, it ended his career as a top flight player before he was able to reach his full potential.

Back in Canada he pursued a number of alternative forms of employment, including car salesman and lumberjack.

Snooker, though, was his true love and in 1998 he won the Americas play-off and returned to the main tour for another season.

Last year he won the Canadian title and played in the World Amateur Championship.